Jumps season kicks into gear as bookies scramble to slash price of Willie Mullins superstar after owner confirms target

THE jumps season has officially kicked into gear – after napping bookies were forced to cut the price of a Willie Mullins superstar.

Kopek Des Bordes’ owner Charlie McCarthy all but confirmed his brilliant Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner will have the Arkle as his big season target.

GettyKopek Des Bordes was an awesome winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – and it looks like the Arkle will be the main goal for him this season[/caption]

The five-year-old was an awesome winner of the Cheltenham curtain-raiser but flopped at the Punchestown Festival when sent off 30-100.

That was the sole defeat of his five-race career and came after back-to-back Grade 1 wins by 15 lengths.

Mullins had raised the possibility of him staying over hurdles after his Supreme victory.

But owner Charlie McCarthy told popular X account Road To Cheltenham it was ‘more than likely’ the Arkle would be his major goal.

He said: “We’ll more than likely go the Arkle route, you’d imagine how he won over two miles so well.

“We are always guided by Willie but he’s always said he is a chasing type.”

If Mullins, who is notorious for chopping and changing running plans at the last minute, does decide on the Arkle, then it could set up a huge clash with Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba.

He was chinned by 100-1 outsider Poniros in the Triumph having looked home and hosed.

But gained revenge on Tony Bloom’s roughie when bolting up at Punchestown and stamping himself down as a star of the future.

Lulamba remains at the head of the market for next year’s Arkle at as short as 4-1.

But Kopek Des Bordes was cut with a few firms, notably Paddy Power and Sky Bet, from 7s into 5-1.